Hair cutting and trimming apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hair cutting and trimming apparatus includes an elongated hollow tube atop which is a hollow head member having a width which is considerably larger than its height. The hollow interiors of the tube and head are in flow communication so that suction applied to the bottom of the tube draws air into the open forward end of the head. Mounting means are provided on the outside of the tube for an electric clipper positioned so that its teeth extend into the head through a suitably provided slit opening in the under side of the head. The longitudinal axis of the tube and the length dimension of the head form an angle in the range of 90° to 120° to permit a user to hold the open forward end of the head adjacent a scalp without having to raise the user&#39;s elbow and arm to an uncomfortable position. A plurality of extenders of different length are adapted to fit under the forward end of the head member to permit selective adjustment of the length of hair cut by the clipper teeth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair cutting and trimming devices inwhich a length of hair is suctioned into a hollow body and cut therein.More particularly, the present invention relates to improvements in suchdevices which provide greater versatility, simpler hair lengthselection, and more convenience in use than is permitted by prior artdevices.

It is known in the prior art to use a vacuum source in conjunction withan automatic hair cutting and trimming device. Such prior art may bereadily separated into two categories: those in which the vacuum is usedonly to remove hair clippings from the cutter (as typified by U.S. Pat.Nos. 1,618,713; 2,653,380; and 2,748,472); and those in which the vacuumis also used to stretch out the hair so that it may be cut to aparticular length (as typified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,238,061; 1,331,218;1,735,766; 3,654,699; and 3,979,825). The present invention is concernedwith the second type of device wherein the vacuum source serves thecombined function of removing the clippings and extending the hair. Suchdevices in the prior art have the clipper located entirely inside thesuction path, a feature which makes for many practical disadvantages.For example, the portion of the suction device which is placed againstthe scalp must be relatively long to accommodate the cutter andtherefore requires the user's arms to be held in uncomfortablepositions. Further, with the cutter mounted inside the suction device itbecomes difficult, if not impossible, to use the cutter independently ofthe suction device.

It is also important in devices of this type to include gauging meansfor selectively changing the length of hair to be cut. Such gaugingmeans in the prior art have taken forms such as: a sleeve whichthreadedly engages the forward end of the device (as in U.S. Pat. No.1,238,061); a sleeve which slidably engages the forward end of thedevice (as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,699); and means for moving the clipperitself within the body of the device (U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,825). All ofthese gauging approaches provide for continuous adjustment mechanisms(as opposed to discrete length settings) and are complex to operate andexpensive to mass produce.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hair cuttingdevice which permits hair to be cut to a preselected length by anunskilled person.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for the use of avacuum means to pull individual hairs into straight line configurationsalong the length of a gauge which sets the cutting length withoutrequiring the entire clipper set to be inside the walls of the airpassage.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a simple meansto change hair cutting length over a wide range without complicating thedesign and manufacture of the device.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a hair cuttingand gauging device which is neither awkward nor inconvenient for theuser to hold and operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a vacuum attachment includes ahollow head portion secured in flow communication to one end of a hollowtube, the tube in turn having its other end connected to a vacuumsource. The height of the head portion is much smaller than the widthand is arranged such that hair is drawn into its open forward end. Theangle made by the tube and the under surface of the head portion is inthe range of approximately 90° to 120° so that a user can hold the tubein one hand and place the forward end of the head portion against ascalp while keeping the user's arm in comfortable positions. Mountingmeans are provided on the tube exterior for an electric clipper to bepositioned with its cutter blades extending into the head portionthrough a slot defined in the head undersurfaces. Attachments ofspecific axial length are adapted to functionally engage the forward endof the head portion to selectively shorten the length of hair extendingto the cutter blades.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the major component of the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view in plan of the head portion of the device of FIG. 1without its cap;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken along lines 3 -- 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view in plan of the cap for the head portion of thedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along lines 5 -- 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view in plan of a conventional electrical hair clipper;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of the hair clipper of FIG. 6 beingmounted onto the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of an adapter which fits over theforward end of the head portion of the device of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views in perspective of two gauge members which areadapted to fit into the forward end of the adapter of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 - 5, the major component of thepresent invention is illustrated as a plurality of individually moldedparts which are bonded together. It is to be understood that a singlepart may be so molded to take the shape and perform the functionsdescribed herein. A hollow cylindrical tube 1 has a lower end adapted tobe connected to a hose or other inlet connection for a vacuum source,such as a standard household vacuum cleaner. The upper end of tube 1 isinserted into and secured to a neck 2 which depends from the under side4 of a head member 3. The head member comprises: a body portion 5 whichis open along its top and from which neck 2 depends; and a cap 6 whichcovers the open top of the body portion. Body portion 5 has a bottomwall, formed by under side 4, of a generally solid U-shape and isbounded along its periphery by an upstanding U-shaped wall 7. A hole 8is defined through wall 4, proximate the back end of head 3, from whichhollow neck 2 projects downwardly at an angle between 90° and 120°. Thisangle defines the angle subsisting between tube 1 and head 3. Cap 6 isalso configured in a generally solid U-shape and secured, by suitableadhesive or the like, to the top edge of upstanding wall 7. A recess 22is defined transversely across cap 6 and projects part way down towardbottom wall 4 at a location forward of hole 8. The forward end of thehead is open to form a rectangular slot 9.

A transversely extending rectangular slot 10 is defined in bottom wall4. A pair of generally inverted V-shaped guard members 11 are formed inwall 7 at opposite ends of slot 10 and extend from top to bottom of head3.

A strap 12 is secured to tube 1 by means of a rivet 13 or the like so asto extend circumferentially about tube 1 with considerable slack.Specifically, the slack in strap 12 is selected to permit the strap tohold the body of an electric hair clipper against the tube 1. Engagementmeans, such as mating snap-fit members 14 and 15, are provided atopposite ends of the strap to securely hold the clipper in position. Acradle 16 is secured to tube 1, at a location below strap 12 andincludes a generally arcuate support surface 17 terminating in twoprojecting feet 18.

The unit as described thus far is arranged to support an electricclipper 19, such as that illustrated in FIG. 6. The particular clipper19 so illustrated is the commercially available Model 23-01Bmanufactured by the John Oster Manufacturing Company of Milwaukee, Wis.It is to be understood that the present invention can be constructed toaccommodate other types of clippers equally as well.

As best illustrated in FIG. 7, clipper 19 is secured to the device ofthe present invention by first inserting the clipper blades 20 into slot10. When the blades are fully inserted in the slot, feet 18 of cradle 16are positioned to extend into recessed screw holes 21 of clipper 19.Likewise, the body of the clipper rests in the arcuate surface 17 of thecradle. The strap 12 (shown in FIG. 1 but not in FIG. 7 for purposes ofclarity) is then secured about the clipper. The clipper 19 is thus heldsecurely in place, with feet 18 preventing inadvertent movement in anydirection.

In operation, the user connects the vacuum source to the lower end oftube 1 and points the slot toward the scalp of the person whose hair isto be cut. The hair is sucked into slot 9, over the blades 20 of clipper19, and then under the recess 22 which forms an air baffle with the head3. The baffle acts to pull the elongated hair downward onto the blades20 to assure that the hair is cleanly and evenly cut. The cut hair isthen drawn through hole 8 and tube 1 to the vacuum source.

Slot 9 is located a predetermined distance in front of slot 10 so thatthe hair can be cut to a length corresponding to that distance.Nominally such distance will be about one inch. Naturally, it isdesirable to be able to cut hair to different lengths and, in accordancewith this invention an adapter 23 (FIG. 8) and extenders 24 (FIG. 9) and25 (FIG. 10) are provided for this purpose. Specifically, adapter 23 isa hollow body formed in two sections: a rectangular sleeve 26 at oneend; and a cylinder 27 at the other end. Sleeve 26 is adapted to fitover and functionally engage the forward end of head 3 so that slot 9 inhead 3 abuts the rear end of cylinder 27. Cylinder 27 thereby serves asan extender, permitting hair to be cut to a length corresponding to thesum of the length of cylinder 27 plus the distance between slots 9 and10. Extender 24 is in the form of a cylinder having a relatively smalldiameter section 29 and a relatively large diameter section 30, thetransition between the two sections being demarked by an annularshoulder 31. Small-diameter section 29 is configured to fit insidecylinder 27 in abutting relationship to sleeve 26. Extender 24 therebyextends the length to which hair is cut by the length of large-diametercylinder 30. The diameter of cylinder 30 is the same as that of cylinder27.

Extender 25 is a simple hollow single cylinder of such diameter to fitinto either cylinder 27 or cylinder 30. When placed into cylinder 27extender 25 abuts sleeve 26 and adds to the length to which the hair iscut. When extender 25 is placed in cylinder 30 it projects only part waytherein and combines with extender 24 to increase the hair length.Extender 25 is provided with at least one small hole 32 to permit someair leakage and thereby prevent the applied suction force from grabbingthe scalp of the person whose hair is being cut. A variety of extenderlengths may be used, each permitting hair to be cut to differentpredetermined lengths when used along and in combination.

Strap 12 is preferably made of flexible material to permit firmengagement of clipper 19 against tube 1. However, if the strap isproperly sized for use with a particular clipper, flexibility is notrequired of the strap.

The angle formed between tube 1 and head 3 permits the device to be usedwithout the user's arm being held in awkward positions. Specifically,the user holds the device along tube 1 and directs slot 9 of head 3against the scalp of the person whose hair is being cut. For virtuallyall scalp locations the user can hold head 3 in place without liftinghis elbow up awkwardly and holding it there in a tiring position.

The device of FIG. 1 is preferably made of plastic. Tube 1 is easilyextruded whereas head 3 and cap 6 are readily injection molded. Asdiscussed briefly above, the entire device of FIG. 1 may be formed of anintegral plastic member having a more gradual bend between the tube andhead sections, and having the same advantages as the embodimentdescribed above.

While we have described and illustrated one specific embodiment of ourinvention, it will be clear that variations of the details ofconstruction which are specifically illustrated and described may beresorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for use in cutting and trimming hair comprising abody member having a hollow handle portion and a hollow head memberhaving a slotted inflow opening, said head member extending from saidhandle portion at an angle in the range of 90° to 120°, the hollowinteriors of said handle portion and said head member being in flowcommunication, said handle being adapted to connect to a source ofvacuum to draw air into said slotted inflow opening through said headmember and handle portion, said head member having a cutting openingdefined therein to permit hair which is drawn into said inflow openingto be cut at said cutting opening by cutter blades inserted into saidcutting opening from a cutter located outside said apparatus, saidapparatus further comprising: baffle means, located slightly downstreamof said cutting opening, for forcing said hair transversely toward saidcutting opening; and means for securing an electric clipper to saidapparatus with the blades of said clipper extending into said headmember through said cutter opening.
 2. The apparatus according to claim1 further comprising a plurality of attachments adapted to be secured,both individually and in combination, to said head member over saidinflow opening to effectively reduce the length of hair drawn into saidinflow opening and thereby increase the length to which the inflowinghair can be cut.
 3. Apparatus for use in cutting and trimming haircomprising a body member having a hollow handle portion and a hollowhead member having a slotted inflow opening, said head member extendingfrom said handle portion at an angle in the range of 90° to 120°, thehollow interiors of said handle portion and said head member being inflow communication, said handle being adapted to connect to a source ofvaccuum to draw air into said slotted inflow opening through said headmember and handle portion, said head member having a cutting openingdefined therein to permit hair which is drawn into said inflow openingto be cut at said opening by cutter blades inserted into said cutteropening from a cutter located outside said apparatus, and a plurality ofattachments adapted to be secured, both individually and in combination,to said head member over said inflow opening to effectively reduce thelength of hair drawn into said inflow opening and thereby increase thelength to which the inflowing hair can be cut.
 4. Apparatus for cuttinghair comprising, in combination:a hollow body member having an inflowopening at one end and means adapted to connect to a vacuum source atanother end, said inflow opening being adapted to permit hair from aperson's scalp to be sucked therethrough to extend into said bodymember; an electric hair clipper having cutter blades; a cutting slotdefined in said body member; and means for securing said hair clipper tothe outside of said body member in a position with said cutting bladesextending into said cutting slot.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4further comprising a plurality of attachments adapted to be secured,both individually and in combination, to said body member over saidinflow opening to effectively reduce the length of hair drawn into saidinflow opening.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said bodymember has a head portion at said another end and a tubular handle atsaid one end, said tubular handle forming an angle of between 90° and120° with said head portion.
 7. Hair-cutting apparatus,comprising:conduit means having an outflow opening adapted to beconnected to a negative pressure source and an inflow opening adapted topermit air and hair to be drawn therethrough into said conduit meansunder the influence of said negative pressure source, said conduit meanshaving a cutting opening defined therein at a location past which hairof a prescribed length is extended under the influence of said negativepressure source; electric hair clipper means secured to the outside ofsaid conduit means, said hair clipper means including cutting bladesextending through said cutting opening in position to cut hair extendedpast said cutting opening in said conduit means.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 7 wherein said hair clipper means is removablysecured to said conduit means.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 7further comprising a plurality of attachments, each being hollow andopen at both ends, adapted to be secured both individually and incombination to said body member over said inflow opening to effectivelyextend the length of said conduit means and to extend the distancebetween said cutting opening and the point of entry of hair into saidconduit means.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprisingbaffle means, disposed inside said conduit means slightly downstream ofsaid slot, for guiding hair generally transversely of air flow directionand toward said cutting opening.
 11. Apparatus for use in cutting andtrimming hair comprising conduit means having an outflow opening adaptedto be connected to a negative pressure source and an inflow openingadapted to permit air and hair to be drawn therethrough into saidconduit means under the influence of said negative pressure source, saidconduit means having a cutter opening defined therein at a location pastwhich hair of a prescribed length is extended under the influence ofsaid negative pressure source, and means for securing an electricclipper to said conduit means in a position such that blades of theelectric clipper extend through said cutting opening in the path of theextended hair.